by Annie Seaton
Kane stood and kept Ellie’s hand tightly in his. She swallowed down as hard as she could. The ache in her throat burned as she tried to hold the tears back.
‘Thank you. I’ll go in,’ Kane said. The doctor nodded and touched him briefly on the shoulder before he walked away.
‘I don’t expect you to come in.’ His mouth turned up in a ghost of a smile. ‘Maybe you could get me a coffee from downstairs? I think the coffee shop stays open till late.’
‘Sure. If not, there’s sure to be a coffee machine.’ It would be good to help out in a tangible way. Ellie turned to go, but Kane’s hand on her shoulder stayed her. He pulled her gently into his arms and she slipped her arms around his waist. He rested his chin on the top of her head and Ellie rubbed his back, trying to soothe his tight muscles. They stood together without speaking for a minute, before Kane stepped back.
‘Thank you. Later . . . after . . . we need to talk.’
‘Okay.’ She turned away towards the lift, conscious of Kane’s gaze on her. But when she reached the lift and looked back he had gone. Ellie gave in to the ache in her throat and the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Chapter 20
Wednesday night
Parliament House, Darwin
David slipped his finger into his collar and pulled it away from his neck. Despite the air-conditioning, the room was stuffy and his shirt was sticking to him. For the first time since he’d entered public service he’d begun to question whether it was worth it. Loosening his tie, he closed his eyes, wishing he was at Makowa Lodge with Gina and the kids, relaxing by the pool with nothing to worry about.
Now the sterile smell of a conference room surrounded him. And a critical vote loomed ahead. As long as Gina and the kids stayed safe he could handle it; but two weeks was a long time to be away from them and the new baby’s birth was getting closer. Once the two decisions were made, he’d be talking to security. The votes would be cast and Fairweather would no longer have a hold over him.
The outcome of tonight’s committee meeting was crucial. If the vote approved the change to the national park boundary, the meeting on Monday to vote on the exploration licence would be critical. The future – or even the survival – of Kakadu National Park swung in the balance, dependent on the outcome of these two committee votes. But if tonight’s vote rejected the boundary change, it was highly unlikely that the exploration licence would be approved – Fairweather’s plans would be dead in the water.
David glanced up as Bill Jarragah hurried into the conference room, only a minute or so before the meeting was due to start. His arm was in a sling and his clothes were rumpled. He pointed to the sling with a shrug of his good shoulder.
‘Silly accident,’ he said, but despite the good-natured teasing that followed he would not be drawn on what had happened.
David watched as Bill took a seat across from him. He and Bill were the only representatives who were on both the committees. The chair called the meeting to order and David focused his attention on the proceedings.
The Honourable Member for Berry read the minutes of the last General Purpose Standing Committee, his speech punctuated by the occasional clink of crockery as members made their way to the corner of the room to replenish their coffee.
When he finished he put the minutes down and looked around the table. ‘It needs to be made quite clear that the outcome of this vote today will impact another one next week.’
David tipped his head to the side and listened carefully; they were getting to the critical part of the discussion that had been raised briefly at the last meeting.
‘It is most unusual for a boundary to be reduced rather than resuming other land to add to the national park.’ The member’s voice was flat and David wondered whether he was only going through the motions. Maybe his tone indicated the way he would vote. Hopefully the point he raised showed he was against it.
David looked around the room at the other committee members and caught the eye of Bill Jarragah. Bill lowered his gaze. He knew that Bill would vote against this. He could always count on the Aboriginal vote to protect the water and environment of the Territory; David was as sure of that as he was that the sun would rise in the morning. His gaze settled on each of the committee members in turn and he began to perspire.
Were Fairweather’s threatening words just posturing? Would he really go after Gina and the kids? Again, David reached up and ran his fingers between his collar and his neck, before he reached for his water glass.
One of the other members held up his hand. ‘Are we discussing the specific property here or are we still in general discussion?’
The member for Berry looked at him over his glasses, as though it was a question where the answer was obvious. David didn’t mind, the more dissension there was, the less chance that the vote would be in the affirmative.
‘Yes, I am sure everyone on both committees has been made aware that it is the South Alligator River property where Black Coal Holdings is seeking to drill for the purposes of exploration.’
‘So if the boundary change is approved, it is more likely that the exploration licence will be approved?’ Bill spoke quietly.
‘That is correct.’
Frowns creased a few foreheads and a couple of the members made notations on copies of the minutes in front of them. The member for Arnhem Land raised his hand, and the chairman nodded for him to go ahead.
‘For exploration to occur I believe an access agreement with the owner is required under section 28B? Is that correct? And the owner of the land in question will change if the boundary change is approved?’
The chairman nodded and the member’s voice rose as he spoke against the vote. ‘Isn’t it most unusual to recommend a boundary change to a federally administered national park?’
Good, David thought, another one who’s against it.
The discussion moved naturally to the economic viability of coal seam gas mining in the Territory.
He waited, hoping someone else would raise what was at the forefront of his mind. He didn’t want to be the one to introduce the issue. It was the elephant in the room; everyone was aware of it, but he wanted to hear it, and see it recorded in the minutes of this meeting. It wasn’t long before the words he waited for were spoken.
‘Yes, the difficulty lies in the fact that the property in question is owned by Panos Sordina.’
The chairman nodded. ‘The members will of course not take that into account when voting, but it must be made very clear that Mr Sordina has declared his pecuniary interest and that he is willing to sell off the affected portion of his property if the approval goes ahead.’
A stifled laugh from one end of the table was quickly turned into a cough. ‘Hah, of course he is,’ someone muttered.
The member for Berry looked over his glasses at the offending member. ‘Order, please. To be fair to Mr Sordina, he has owned this property for five years, and the possibility of mineral wealth in the South Alligator region has only come to light in the last eighteen months.’
Bill’s voice was soft as he entered the discussion. ‘The environmental study is complete and the boundaries of the national park can be adjusted without significant impact on the northern section of the park if necessary. The land in question is not culturally sensitive.’
Several members tried to speak at once. David looked across to Bill and he again dropped his gaze. An uneasy feeling snaked through his stomach when he saw the perspiration on Bill’s brow.
‘Order, please.’
Papers shuffled as the committee prepared to vote. David took a deep breath. He hoped that his prediction of the outcome was right. He had spoken to the members over the previous weeks and they were evenly split. He had had a long phone conversation with Bill Jarragah last week and he knew that together their votes would defeat the motion. Even so, David’s stomach clenched as the vote was called. Bill stared straight ahead, perspiration running down the sides of his cheeks; he looked distinctly unwell.
&nb
sp; David gripped his hands in his lap and held his breath. He watched as the three of the four hands he expected rose slowly.
‘So are we done?’ The chairman’s hand was already up, as David had expected.
Disbelief jarred through him as another hand rose. The member for Berry stared down at the table as his hand, too, rose. He was the most conservative member of the committee and had been vocal in his opposition to shale gas exploration for many months.
Five up and five down. It was now up to David to choose between his beliefs or his family. A negative vote would put his wife and children in jeopardy, but he couldn’t, in good conscience, support the proposal. He clenched his hands more tightly as he opened his mouth to confirm his negative vote. If necessary, he would put a round-the-clock guard on the children.
But before he could declare his negative vote, Bill jutted his chin out and put his hand up.
The chairman looked around the room and counted the show of hands. ‘The measure is passed in the affirmative. Six votes to four in favour of the boundary change.’ He nodded. ‘I am pleased, personally and on behalf of my constituents, to see that common sense has prevailed. Hopefully this decision indicates that the exploration application will be looked at favourably next week. It is in the best economic interests of the Territory.’
David’s throat closed with disappointment but he kept his expression bland as the chairman called the meeting to a close. David had voted against it; he would not succumb to threats. Fairweather had got to others in this room – maybe more than one. David looked around, but not one member would meet his eye. Bill Jarragah’s eyes were closed and perspiration ran down his face.
David closed his office door and collapsed at his desk, staring at the picture of Gina and the children next to his computer. Uncertainty rippled through him. Had he made a mistake sending them away? Should he have kept them close where he could look out for them?
The dropped gazes and the outcome of the vote had convinced him that Fairweather’s reach was great. They were solid men of integrity in that committee and more than one of them had obviously been bought. He couldn’t believe that Bill Jarragah had voted for the boundary change; but if Bill had sold out for money, he would be very surprised. His passion for his land and love of country had made Bill a valuable member of the environmental committees in which he’d represented the clans since before David had been in parliament. There must be another reason for his decision. He was counting on Bill to speak strongly against the exploration licence.
Pressing his thumbs onto his eyelids, David tried to ease the band of stress that was beginning to tighten on his temple. The last thing he needed was a stress migraine.
And no Gina at home tonight to massage my neck. David glanced down at his watch before taking a swig of water from the bottle on his desk.
He pressed the speed dial on his mobile and stared out the window as he waited for her to pick up. The square below was empty and leaves whirled around in the strong wind. He knew she’d be waiting for his call.
‘Hi, darling.’ Her voice soothed him even from afar. ‘Sorry, it took me a while. I forgot to get my phone out of my bag before I got into bed. It’s full of rubbish.’
‘For a change,’ he said. He had never known anyone to carry as much in a handbag as Gina did.
‘I need a new one.’
‘A new handbag?’ David smiled to himself. He knew what was coming next.
‘Yes, I think a trip to Florence is called for.’ He could hear the laughter in her voice and then it disappeared. ‘Is everything okay there, darling? How did the meeting go?’
David ran his hand through his hair. ‘The boundary change was approved.’
Gina was silent.
He cleared his throat and injected a smile into his tone. ‘Having a good rest?’
‘Yes. I had lunch with Ellie today.’
‘Good, I must thank her for catching up with you. How are the kids?’
‘They miss you, David. I’ve booked them into the crèche tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to have another facial.’ Gina’s voice faded out for a moment.
‘You there, Gina?’
‘Sorry, I thought I heard one of the kids, but it was just the wind. It’s really blown up here tonight.’
Premonition crawled along David’s spine. ‘You’ve locked the doors? And the windows are shut?’ There was no way Fairweather would know he had voted against the exploration. Surely not.
‘Yes, David. I listen to you.’
‘It’s windy here too. I have to go now, bella. I just called to tell you how much I love you.’
‘Mi manchi, David.’
‘I miss you too. All three of you.’ David made a snap decision as he stared into the night. ‘Gina? How would you like to take a trip back to Tuscany for Christmas? I am sure your mother would love to see our new little one.’
The squeal that came through the phone brought the smile back to his face.
‘Really? Oh David, that would be wonderful.’
‘We’ll start planning it when you’re all back home next week.’
‘Mwah. Have I told you today I love you?’
David smiled as the sound of kisses came over the phone. ‘Yes, but you can tell me as much as you like.’ The phone on David’s desk buzzed. ‘Bella, I have to go. Say hello to Ellie for me when you see her next and Gina . . . Take care, okay?’
‘We will. Love you, darling.’
David disconnected, slipped his mobile into his pocket, and reached for his desk phone.
‘Yes?’
‘David.’
His stomach clenched and a metallic taste filled his mouth.
‘Russell. I didn’t think I had given you my direct line.’ The chuckle that came over the phone sent a shiver down David’s spine.
‘No, I don’t believe you did, David.’
‘What can I do for you? I was about to leave for an appointment.’
‘Yes, I believe you do. The member for Berry, I believe? A good man.’
Jesus Christ. Did the man have the whole fucking committee in his pocket?
‘I wasn’t aware that my schedule was public knowledge.’
‘Don’t toy with me, David. You won’t be happy with the consequences.’
‘Listen to me, Russell.’ David bit out the words. ‘You will not tell me what to do. Is that clear?’
‘No, David. You listen to me. I’m very unhappy with the way you voted in the meeting earlier. I thought we had an agreement.’ Fairweather’s voice was like steel.
‘We had a discussion, there was no agreement.’
‘And I told you what might happen if you didn’t understand my side of the discussion. Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough.’
‘Oh, yes. You were mighty clear.’ David held the phone so tightly he could feel his fingers going numb.
‘I know you have hidden your little family away, but don’t underestimate me, David.’
‘That is one thing I will never do, Russell.’ David kept his voice firm and strong, despite the cold chill that was running down his limbs. ‘I’m only going to tell you this once: Leave my family alone. And don’t underestimate my integrity. I will always do what is best for the Territory.’ There was stony silence at the other end of the phone. ‘Now, as I said, I have a meeting. Good night.’ David dropped the phone and it hit his desk with a clatter.
*
Russell Fairweather slipped the phone into his tailor-made jacket and brushed an invisible piece of lint off his trouser leg before turning to his driver. ‘I am very pleased you brought the Mercedes tonight, Mick.’
‘My favourite, Mr Fairweather.’
‘And your helicopter flight went well this morning? I have another couple of little jobs for you down in Kakadu.’
‘It was very satisfactory. When you need me to follow through, I have a plan in place.’ For the first time Mick smiled. ‘Those R44s would be very easy to fall out of.’
‘Good. You’ll need to take an off-roa
d vehicle down there tomorrow. I’ll let you know the details later.’
‘My pleasure.’ Mick’s expression was bland again.
‘Did you keep the little souvenir you retrieved from Bill Jarragah last night?’
A single nod. ‘It’s in the cooler on the back seat.’
‘Well done.’
Russell pulled his phone from his pocket. There was one more loose end to tie up.
It was opportune that David had secreted his little family down at Makowa Lodge. And such a happy coincidence that Ellie Porter was working there too. Now to ensure that Bill Jarragah would jump to his bidding a second time.
Chapter 21
Thursday night
Darwin Hospital
Susan Sordina held on for another day. She passed away just after eight o’clock the following night, Kane by her side as the final rattling breaths struggled from her frail chest. He remained with her for a long time before he let go of her cold hand and called for the nurse. Panos had not been located. They’d even sent the police to his office but his secretary said he’d gone out and not told her where he was going.
Ellie was sitting outside in the chair where she’d been all day, a cold cup of coffee on the floor beside her. She had supported Kane, talked to him, held his hand and been there with coffee each time he’d come out for a break. Her legs were curled up beneath her, and her head tipped back on the hard plastic chair. Kane stood at the door, took a deep breath and composed himself. He clenched his jaw and swallowed. Later he would give in to the grief of losing his mother, but first he had to find Sordina, the gambling lowlife, and tell him his wife was dead.
Rather than driving back to Kakadu that night, Ellie talked him into letting her book two rooms at a hotel down on the harbour front. It made sense; he had to notify his stepfather, and when he had done that, there were more arrangements to make in the morning. Jock wasn’t expecting them – she’d phoned earlier and explained the situation – and as Ellie pointed out, he was tired and it wouldn’t be safe driving on the highway.